David A. Lawrence
    Changes in immunity and prevalence of disorders over past century
    Changes in immunity and prevalence of disorders over past century
    Environmental, biological, chemical psychological and physical stressors use common inhibitory pathways
    Environmental, biological, chemical psychological and physical stressors use common inhibitory pathways
    Disbalance: Immune dysregulation
    Disbalance: Immune dysregulation
    Nervous, endocrine, immune and GI interactions
    Nervous, endocrine, immune and GI interactions
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David A. Lawrence, PhD

Neuroimmunology and Immunotoxicology
Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Integrated Health Sciences, University at Albany
Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Integrated Health Sciences, University at Albany
PhD, Biochemistry, Boston College (1971)
Postdoctoral training: Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, Immunopathology (1974)
(518) 486-9154
Fax: (518) 474-1412

Research Interests

Our research addresses the biochemical and molecular analysis of the human and murine immune systems with specific emphasis on the mechanisms by which chemicals and drugs alter the structure/function of the developing and aging immune system and the mechanisms by which the immune and nervous systems bidirectionally regulate each other. The balance between cell-mediated and humoral (antibody-mediated) immune responses is studied with emphasis on the T cell and antigen-presenting cell subsets. The mechanistic influences of oxidative stress from environmental toxicants and pathogens on endocrine, immune, and nervous system responsiveness is investigated. Modulations of immune responses by exogenous (environmental and dietary factors) and endogenous (hormonal and neural factors) regulators that can increase or decrease the incidence of infectious diseases, cancers and autoimmune diseases are being investigated along with neuroimmune disorders such as autism.

A molecular understanding of interorgan, microbiome-gut-brain axis, and nerve-immune subset communications is integral to unraveling the means by which immunity aids health and can be improved. Our in vivo and in vitro models are designed to determine the mechanisms of the neuroendocrine immune network. Modifications during the highly susceptible perinatal period increase the prevalence of neuroimmune pathologies. Environmental stressors, including infections, induce biomarkers that modify immunity as well as behavior and our research aims to determine the responsible biomarkers and their mechanisms of action.

Awards and Honors

  • 2020 NICHD PreVAIL KIds “Biomarker Signatures of Prognostic Value for MIS-C”
  • 2015 recipient of the Vos Award Career Achievement in Immunotoxicology, Society of Toxicology
  • Editor, Current Protocols in Toxicology
  • Associate Editor, Toxicol Appl Pharmacol

 

Select Publications
Uddin MN, Mondal T, Yao Y, Manley K, Lawrence DA. Oxidative stress and neuroimmune proteins in a mouse model of autism. Cell Stress Chaperones. 2023; 28 (2): 201-217. DOI: 10.1007/s12192-023-01331-2
Pubmed Web Address
Maltz-Matyschsyk M, Melchiorre CK, Herbst KW, Hogan AH, Dibble K, O’Sullivan B, Graf J, Jadhav A, Lawrence DA, Lee WT, Carson KJ, Radolf JD, Salazar JC, Lynes MA and Connecticut Children’s COVID Collaborative. Development of a biomarker signature using grating-coupled fluorescence plasmonic microarray for diagnosis of MIS-C. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 2023; (11): 1066391. DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1066391
Monaco-Brown M, Lawrence DA. Obesity and Maternal-Placental-Fetal Immunology and Health. Front Pediatr. 2022; (10): 859885. DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.859885
Pubmed Web Address
Kasten-Jolly J, Lawrence DA. Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) modify in vitro mitogen- and antigen-induced human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) responses. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2022; 85 (17): 715-737. DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2022.2075816
Pubmed Web Address
Uddin MN, Manley K, Lawrence DA. Altered meningeal immunity contributing to the autism-like behavior of BTBR T+Itpr3tf /J mice. Brain Behav Immun Health. 2022; (26): 100563. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100563
Pubmed Web Address
Otaru S, Lawrence DA. Autism: genetics, environmental stressors, maternal immune activation, and the male bias in autism. Explor Neuroprot Ther. 2022; (2): 141-61. DOI: 10.37349/ent.2022.00025
Emeny RT, Carpenter DO, Lawrence DA. Health disparities: Intracellular consequences of social determinants of health. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2021; (416): 115444. DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115444
Pubmed Web Address
Mendoza A, Torrisi DM, Sell S, Cady NC, Lawrence DA. Grating coupled SPR microarray analysis of proteins and cells in blood from mice with breast cancer. Analyst. 2016; 141 (2): 704-712.
Pubmed Web Address
Kremer JM, Lawrence DA, Hamilton R, McInnes IB. Long-term study of the impact of methotrexate on serum cytokines and lymphocyte subsets in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: correlation with pharmacokinetic measures. RMD Open. 2016; 2 (1): e0002.
Pubmed Web Address
Mendoza A, Torres-Hernandez JA, Ault JG, Pedersen-Lane JH, Gao D, Lawrence DA. Silica nanoparticles induce oxidative stress and inflammation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Cell Stress Chaperones. 2014; 19 (6): 777-790.
Pubmed Web Address
Zhang YB, Gao DH, Kluetzman K, Mendoza A, Bolivar VJ, Reilly A, Jolly JK, Lawrence DA. The maternal autoimmune environment affects the social behavior of offspring. Journal of Neuroimmunology. 2013; 258 (1-2): 51-60.
Pubmed Web Address
Heo Y, Zhang Y, Gao D, Miller VM, Lawrence DA. Aberrant immune responses in a mouse with behavioral disorders. PLoS One. 2011; 6 (7): e20912.
Pubmed Web Address
Mondal TK, Saha SK, Miller VM, Seegal RF, Lawrence DA. Autoantibody-mediated Neuroinflammation: Pathogenesis of Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in the NZM88 Murine Model. Brain Behav Immun. 2008; 22 (6): 949-959.
Pubmed Web Address
Emeny RT, Gao D, Lawrence DA. Beta1-adrenergic receptors on immune cells impair innate defenses against Listeria. J Immunol. 2007; 178 (8): 4876-4884.
Pubmed Web Address
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